Last Wednesday was the warmest day of 2015. The sun was shining, and I was able to feel comfortable in a pair of shorts. I celebrated the warmth by going on a run and later a walk. I drove with the windows down. This was the most time I had spent outdoors all year, I think. The sunlight felt so good on my face. Even better, the forecast for my city over the next week suggests we'll have more warm days like last Wednesday.

But the mornings here in North Carolina are still pretty chilly. When I sleep with my window cracked open, I wake up to a bedroom so cold I don't even want to get out of bed. When I come downstairs for breakfast, all I can think about is sitting my the fireplace and sipping hot cocoa. Luckily, this recipe is healthy enough that I can have it several mornings a week. It's creamy and rich, but most importantly, it's warm.

Hot Chocolate

Ingredients:

1 cup of non-dairy milk

2 tablespoons of cocoa powder

1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon of vanilla

1-2 teaspoon of maple, agave, or whatever other liquid sweetener you prefer

Directions:

In a small saucepan, heat up the non-dairy milk to roughly 140˚F.

Slowly stir in the rest of the ingredients. Mix until the powders have dissolved into the milk. Enjoy!